Signature gathering machine



g- P. E. KLEINEBERG SIGNATURE GATHERIMG' MACHINE Filed May 15, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l TTORNEYS.

INVENTOR. Y? E. ma e/14mm K WM? A A Aug. 12, 1941- P. E. KLEINEBERG- SIGNATURE GATHERIMG MACHINE Filed May 15, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M N TTORNEYS INVENTOR. E K-QMQLMZ/ 442 Aug. 12, 1941. P. E. KLEXNEBERG 2,251,943

I SIGNATURE GATHERIMG MACHINE Filed May 15, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

1 E Ke /aw BY 98 W wHTORNEI Ek Patented Aug. 12, 1941 SIGNATURE GATHERING MACHINE Paul E. Kleineberg, Easton, Pa... assignor to T. W. & C. B. Sheridan Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 15, 1940, Serial No. 335,247

29 Claims.

This invention relates to signature gathering machines, the purpose of which is to extract signatures from each of a series of stacks and transfer and discharge them to a traveling conveyor Whereon the successive signatures are received and grouped during travel for eventual delivery as a procession of signature groups adapted to be suitably bound or stapled. In a specific'aspect the invention relates to the socalled insert gathering, wherein the traveling conveyor is in the nature of a saddle, and each signature during transfer is opened for delivery straddlewise upon the saddle. The invention has reference particularly to the extracting of the signatures from each stack, their transfer from the extraction point to the discharge point, and their opening for delivery upon the saddle.

What is believed to be the nearest prior art may be recited as follows. Patentof Kleineberg et al. No. 2,163,732 granted June 27, 1939, shows an insert gathering machine wherein each signature is first gripped at one edge and partly retracted in one direction or downwardly, then separated at its other edge from the stack, gripped and extracted upwardly, transferred thence to the discharge point and there opened for deposit on the traveling saddle. While said machine affords a high speed of operation and output it possesses certain disadvantages, including the fact that the reverse movements in the hopper, first downwardly and then upwardly, render the mechanism unavailable for small or narrow signatures; besides which the necessary separation of the retracted upper edge of each signature for gripping and extraction is itself a factor of complication and possible uncertainty.

In the construction shown in patent of Schweizer granted on application Serial No. 294,- 057, filed September 9, 1939, the double movement in the stack and the top separating action of the earlier patent are dispensed with, and each signature is gripped and wholly extracted downwardly in a single motion, followed by its pause and subsequent gripping at its upper edge for transfer away to the opening and discharge point. While constituting an improvement in the respects noted said machine however suffered from a relatively restricted rate of operation and output, due in part to a reciprocatory extractor movement; and further there exists a possible uncertainty in regard to registering perfectly each extract-ed signature in preparation for its gripping, transfer and opening.

The principal object of the present invention therefore is to retain the advantages of each of difficulties.

the prior machines described while obviating or minimizing their disadvantages; in other words to provide a machine operable on large or small signatures, at a satisfactory rate of output, and substantially free of separating and registering A further object is to simplify the actions of the machine and the motions of each signature between each of the stacks and the conveyor or saddle upon which the signatures are grouped. A further object is to provide means for opening the extracted signatures in a rapid and reliable manner.

Further objects and advantages will be explained in the hereinafter following description of illustrative embodiments of the invention or will be understood 'by those conversant with the subject. To the attainment of such objects and advantages the present invention consists in the novel signature gathering machine, especially as to extraction, transfer and opening of signatures, and the novel features of operation, combination, arrangement and structure herein illustrated or described.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is what may be considered a left end elevation of a signature gathering machine embodying the principles of the present invention, certain longitudinal members being shown in section.

Fig. l is a detached edge View of a single signature as positioned in the stack of Fig. 1 with its closed edge down and its non-lap half frontward.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation view similar to Fig. 1 of a machine comprising another embodiment of the invention, the signatures in this instance being shown as stacked differently from Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are detail views of what is herein termed a transfer cylinder such as shown in Fig. 1 or 2. Fig. 3 is an end view of the active portion of one of such cylinders, being a right elevation of the cylinder of Fig. 1 or a left elevation of that of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an inclined View of one half of the cylinder shown in Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an inclined view, complementary to Fig. 4 except that the parts are in different positions, of the other half of the cylinder, looking in the direction of the arrow 5 of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is an end view, opposite to that of Fig. 3, of the active portion of the transfer cylinder.

In one aspect the present improvement is characterized by the following elements constituting a subcombination of the general combination of a signature gathering machine, such as an insert or saddle gatherer. An important element is the extractor means adjacent to each hopper, and this comprises a continuously rotatable drum 26 with a gripper, or a set of grippers 3i], operable to grip each signature S by its first or closed back edge and pull it completely out of the stack, and thence carry it around on the drum beyond the transfer point of the drum, which preferably is near its low point, and thence around to release it at or in advance of a pausing position wherein which its second, last-emerged or openable edge occupies an accurately predetermined position near the aforesaid transfer or low point of the drum, the signature pausing thus while the drum and open gripper continue rotation for operation on another or the next signature. A

second important element is a suitable means, such as a fixed guide plate or rest 55, or a series of idler rolls, spaced outwardly of the drum, for

supporting each released signature adjacent to the drum while the signature is pausing briefly thereon awaiting transfer. Cooperating with theseelements is a continuously rotatable transfer cylinder 6!] which is located adjacent to the drum'and near its transfer or low point, and having a gripper operable to grip each pausing signature by its accurately positioned second or openable'edge, and pull it reversely. away from its pausing position on the drum and thence around for downward discharge upon the gather: ing conveyor or saddle l9 or 20. The conveyor being shown of the saddle type an opening device is provided having means operable to engage the outer half of the signature advancing on the cylinder; for example analogous to the opening devices of said patents, to divert it away from the inner half for opening during discharge of the signature upon the saddle. A further important element is a signature positioning means orstop43, cooperating with the drum and gripper,. and preferably set in a fixed position, determined in accordance with the width of signature, and operating to stop the first or closed edge of each released signature slightly beyond the release point so that its opposite or second edge will rest in position for gripping and reverse transfer with great accuracy as is necessary for performing reliably the delicate signature opening operation during transfer and discharge. Other .and subordinate elements, and the general cooperation and mode of action of all elements will be herein described; and details not herein fully disclosed can be ascertained from the disclosures of said prior patents.

Referring to Fig. 1, the signatures S are here shown stacked in edgewise posture with their closed edges s downward. They preferably are lap signatures and, as separately shown in Fig. 1 the narrow half of each signature is frontward, while the wide or lap half s is rearward, with its lap or opening extension 5 upstanding beyond the front half of the signature. A 'lap signature may have its entire lap half wider than the other half, or only the innermost sheet thereof. 7 h i The machine comprises a conventional frame, including the upright frame members or cross walls It! and various extensions and brackets. Atthe upper rear, being the left side of Fig. l, is shown a shelf ll upon which signature supplies may be rested awaiting introduction into the respective hoppers.

these other side walls It, which may be spaced suitably to cause the bowing of the bulk of the signatures standing edgewise therebetween. At the front each hopper has an abutment or wall [5 and a similar upper abutment it, against which the first or front signature bears. With flatwise stacking the hopper will be different, as will be described in connection with Fig. 2.

Skipping from the hopper or stack holder thus described to the receiving conveyor, the latter for an insert gatherer is shown as supplemented by a fixed upper receiver or saddle IQ for each hopper, this being located to receive each discharged signature before it is slid along therefrom to the main or traveling conveyor or saddle 26, the latter having lateral wings 2i which operate first to thrust each signature from the upper to the lower saddle, and then to push along each signature group resting on the main traveling saddle. Between each signature stack and the corresponding discharge point is provided the novel combination of elements and devices hereof for detaching and then extracting each signature from its stack, transferring it to the discharge point and there opening it for discharge upon the saddle.

In order to facilitate reliable gripping and extracting, each hopper is provided with a signature detacher 24 in the conventional form of a suction cup on a swingable lever, mounted for example below the abutment H5, at each side of each hopper, in such position as not to conflict with the rotation of the extractor to be described. Conventional driving means and connections are to be understood, and these in the case of the detacher 24 will cause the timed outswinging and return movements thereof, and the application and release of suction therefrom. The continuously rotating drums and cylinders. to be described may all derive their drive from a main longitudinal shaft by suitable gearing such as that indicated in Patent No. 2,163,732, the main shaft usually making one turn per cycle or extraction.

The extractor comprises a continuously rotatable member or gripper carrier, herein termed a drum 26, the several drums being mounted on a common shaft 21. Near its periphery the drum carries a gripper seat 25 for each gripper 30, the latter being shown in the conventional form of a swinging jaw or finger. Instead of providing but a single gripper set on each drum 25, the plan is followed of providing a plurality of gripper sets, namely two gripper sets, oppositely located on the drum as shown, the drum for this purpose having an enlarged diameter and circumference and its shaft 21! being driven to make only one turn for each two complete cycles of the machine.

The extractor then comprises the continuously rotary drum 26 with at least one set of grippers 3b, the grippers of each set being mounted on a longitudinal shaft 3i, understood to be under the stress of a spring acting to close the gripper 39 upon its seat 29 with sufficient force to grip and pull out of the hopper each signature. The actuation of each gripper set may be analogous to that of the drum grippers in said Patent 2,163,732 or to that of the cylinder grippers later to be described herein. To open the grippers 3|! of each set, a pinion on the gripper shaft 3! is engaged by a segment gear 32 swinging upon a stud or axle 33 mounted on the drum. For opening the grippers the segment gear has mounted upon it a follower or roller 34 which, as the drum rotates, passes around the periphery of a fixed cam comprising a first cam part 35 and a com plementary cam part 36, made separate for purposes to be described. The cam part 35 is secured permanently in a fixed position and has a slanting portion or cam drop 31 which allows the roller 34 to move inwardly, thus causing the closing of the gripper 30, The gripper thus closes against its seat 29, with such timing that the detached signature lower edge s, outswung by the detacher 24, is gripped between the gripper and seat as the drum carries these past the extracting position, so that the continued rotation causes the signature to be pulled out of the hopper by its first or closed edge. Subsequently the roller 34 of each gripper set travels around until reaching the slant or rise 38 of the second cam part 36, this rise thrusting outwardly the roller and thereby swinging open the gripper to release the extracted signature, near the front, as shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 1.

By this arrangement each extractor or drum may be maintained in continuous and steady rotation, each of its gripper sets engaging and ex-- tracting a signature, and pulling it completely out of the stack by an extracting motion which carries the signature around, as downwardly, to and beyond the transfer or low point of the drum and thence around upwardly at the other side for release at a predetermined pausing position. In this position the second or openable edge of the signature occupies a predetermined transfer position preferably near the lower point of the drum for subsequent transfer as will be described.

Owing to differences in the widths of signatures to be gathered it is desirable to alter the pausing position of the released signatures, and it is for this reason that the gripper cam 35, 36 is made in two parts, the part 36 being relatively adjustable to change the point of gripper opening or release Without changing the point of gripper closing. There is therefore shown a block or carrier 40 having a hub loosely surrounding the shaft 2'! and formed with slots through which extend bolts 4| attaching the cam part 36 to the block. Thus the cam part 36 may be initially secured adjustably to the block 40, and thereafter the cam part may be readily adjusted by swinging the block thereby to change the gripper opening or release point in each drum rotation.

Coordinated with the gripper releasing cam part 35 is a signature registering or stop member 43 formed preferably with a V-notch 44 arranged in the path of th signature advancing around the circumference of the drum, and so located that each advancing signature, immediately after its release by the gripper, comes up against the stop, and is there caused to pause in its predetermined'position as already described. For convenience the notched stop 43 is formed as an extension of the block 40, so that a single swinging adjustment about the drum axis of the two members 40 and 43 simultaneously sets the stop according to the width of the signature and sets the cam to open the gripper slightly but safely before the signature reaches the stop.

For convenience of such adjustment to adapt the machine to a given width of signature the block 49 and stop 43 are shown as having an extension or handle 46 readily accessible at the front of the machine. This adjustment may be made by placing a signature of the desired width in the position shown, swinging the handle 46 to set the stop notch 44 to the signature, which at the same time properly sets the release point of the gripper, and then securing. the handle and block 40 in such position. In order to set the adjustment a set screw or bolt 41 is shown passing through the member 43 or handle 46 and through the concentric slot 48 in an arcuate member or segment 49 mounted fixedly in position upon frame rods 50.

Since there is a necessary lag between the. release by the gripper of each signature and the contact of the latter with the stop 43, it is desirable to provide an auxiliary feed device to insure that the signature will continue to travel up to the stop and will remain there until the.

reverse transfer actuation. Since the signature is resting against the drum periphery after its release, the desired auxiliary, but non-positive feed, is readily provided by means of a small roll or idler 52. which is positioned adjacent to the release point and is operated to press resiliently the released signature against the drum, so that the continued rotation of the drum itself, by friction, insures the feeding of the signature back edge up to the stop and its pausing in that position until the immediately following reverse travel, or transfer of the signature. A convenient mounting for the idler roll 52 is by means of a swinging lever 53 which is to be understood as spring-pressed to thrust the roll toward the periphery of the drum; and an advantageous arrangement is to pivot the feed roll lever upon the stop member 43, so that the idler roll al-' Ways'takes a position correctly related to the release position and the stop position of each signature, as shown. Every signature, therefore, in its extracting motion on the drum 26, is caused to travel as described, downwardly past the drum low point, and thence upwardly for accurate stoppage in contact with the stop 43, so positioned that the second or openable edge of the signature assumes an exact position, near the low point of the drum, ready for cooperation with the transfer cylinder.

An important element is a suitable means, as a fixed rest or guide plate 55, for supporting or confining each released signature adjacent to the extractor drum periphery while pausing briefly between extraction and transfer operations. The signature rest or support 55 is shown as consisting of a plate or strips having a form curved approximately concentrically with the drum and fixedly mounted upon brackets 56 extending inwardly from a frame rod 50. The rest plate 55 is spaced slightly away from the drum so that each signature may be enclosed loosely between the plate and drum, and preferably with a sufiicient spacing or clearance that two signatures may pass by each other therein; in other words while one signature is being reversely drawn away from the drum for transfer and discharge, the next succeeding signature under extraction may be entering the space between the drum and the rest as it is pulled by the gripper into its pausing position.

Instead of a curved rest plate 55, other guiding or confining means may be used. A curved series of idler or driven rollers may be placed in the same position, either fixed or movable towards and from the drum; or a short stretch of endless belt. A blast of air may sometimes serve to hold the extracted signatures in position for transfer; or, if the transfer starts immediately upon the signature coming to a pause, it may be practical to dispense with any holding means a star and numbered 62.

other than the inertia of the signature pausing on the drum.

Referring next to the transfer member or cylinder 60 on shaft 6| this is located to rotate continuously in the same direction as and adjacent to the periphery of the drum26, with its gripping point located at the transfer point of the drum, the transfer point being indicated by The cylinder as shown is substantially at the low point of the drum although if desired it might be arranged at a transfer point higher around the drum periphery. The cylinder driving shaft 6| carries all of the transfer cylinders in the machine, and this may in fact bethe main drive shaft from which, by suitable gearing, the drum shaft 2'! takes it rotation, in the illustrated case at half the rotary speed.

The first operation of the transfer cylinder 66 is to grip-the openable edge of each signature positioned at the transfer point 62 and pull it reversely away from the drum, this being performed by a main gripper or gripper set 63 mounted on a gripper shaft 64 and coacting with a gripper seat 65 on each cylinder. Since the cylinder takes part both in the transfer of each pausing signature away from the drum, and the later opening of the signature for final discharge, the cylinder is provided with a second gripper or gripper set 66 adapted to grip only the inner half of each signature on the cylinder, holding it there while the other half is released and diverted away for opening purposes. Lap signatures being used, the gripper 66 is termed a lap gripper, and the lap gripper of each cylinder is mounted on a gripper shaft 61 by which it is operated in coordination with the main gripper.

These described transfer elements are shown on Fig. 1, and the gripper cooperation may be similar to that of the grippers of the main drum of Patent No. 2,163,732, the main gripper first closing on the entire thickness of the signature S at its openable edge, gripping it against the seat 65, and commencing the transfer, the'lap gripper thereupon gripping only the inner half of the signature by its lap 5 the main gripper then releasing the non-lap half s, to be engaged and diverted away by the opening device,

and the lap gripper shortly thereafter releasing the inner half of the signature for final discharge purposes.

The details of the transfer cylinder 66 and its gripper mechanism are shown on Figs. 3 to 6 in which Fig. 6 is a left elevation corresponding substantially with Fig. 1 except that the parts are in a different position, while Fig. 5 is an elevation view looking in the direction of the arrow 5 on Fig. 6 and showing the parts in the same position, at the left end of the cylinder; Fig. 4 being an elevation view complementary to Fig. 5, referring to the right end of the cylinder, looking in the direction of the arrow 4 of Fig. 3, the latter being a right elevation with the parts in a different position from both Figs. 1 and 6. Taking these figures in the order of their occurrence, Fig. 1 shows the main gripper 63 as havingclosed upon the signature edge at the transfer point 62, being about to start the reverse transfer movement of the signature, the lap gripper 66 being still open. The gripper 63 has closed upon the signature during rotation, and it remains closed for a substantial extent of transfer travel. The lap gripper closes shortly after the transfer commences. Figs. 5 and 6 show the signature edge as still gripped by both grippers, the gripper 63 holding the entire thickness against the seat 65, while the lap gripper 66 holds only the lap margin 5 Incidentally, the gripper and seat arrangement is a substan tial improvement over Patent No. 2,163,732 in that the same seat 65, set at a slant so as to lie wholly belowthe cylinder periphery, serves for the purposes of both grippers, which are free from conflict thereon as seen in Fig. 6 and which preferably also are set side by side as shown in Figs. 4 and 5; by this arrangement both halves of the signature being bent on to the seat when gripped, as shown in Fig. 6, whereas on release by the main gripper the non-lap half restores itself to a peripheral position, as shown in Fig. 3, leaving a recess or space 3- adapted to accommodate the jaw of an opening device or gripper as will be described. When the cylinder has rotated to a suitable extent the main gripper 63 is caused to retract from the seat thus releasing the non-lap half of the signature, this position being illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4, Fig. 3 showing also how this release creates the recess s useful for opening purposes. Shortly beyond the position of the parts shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the opening device comes into play to engage and divert the non-lap half 8' of the signature away from the lap half, above the saddle, finally the lap gripper 66 and the opening device operating to release entirely the signature to discharge it straddlewise upon the saddle.

The details of the cylinder gripper operating mechanism will now be described in connection with Figs. 3 to 6. Each short or lap gripper 66 is shown mounted on its shaft 61 by means of a collar 68. Each main gripper 63 is shown mounted on its shaft 64 by means of a collar 69 which is also an operating pinion for oscillating the shaft and gripper. Tracing out first the connections for the main gripper, the pinion 69 is engaged and operated by a toothed rack 10 formed as a segment upon a lever H, the hub of which turns loosely upon an axle or stud 12 mounted on the web of the drum. By swinging the lever the gripper 63 is' swung between its closed and open positions shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6. The gripping force is conventionally provided by strong spring connections constantly pressing the parts to close the gripper forcibly upon the seat. For this purpose the lever H has an extension arm 13 the extremity of which is pivoted to the head M of a rod 15 arranged within and giving support to a helical compression spring 16. The rod 15 at its far end, seen in Fig. 4, passes through an adjusting collar ll, thence sliding within a swivelled block 18. The lever H, '53 may thus swing about the axle 12 under the strong influence of the gripper closing spring E6.

The opposite or opening movement of the gripper 63 is afforded in a conventional manner, the lever H carrying a roller or follower 19 running on a fixed cam 86, the contour of which controls the gripper movements, while the spring 16 holds the follower upon the cam. Thus in Fig. 3, the cam is shown as formed with an outslant or rise 6|, which has just operated to swing the lever II in a manner to open the gripper 63; and at the opposite side the cam has a corresponding inslant or drop, not shown, which is accurately shaped and set to cause the quick closing of the gripper 63 as the seat 65 arrives, as shown in Fig. 1, at the transfer point 62, causing gripping and immediate pulling of the signature.

V be analogous.

The means operating the lap gripper 06 may Its shaft 61 carries a pinion 84 which meshes with rack 85 at the swinging extremity of a lever 80 turning on an axle or stud I2 which may be a continuation of the axle I2. Beyond its hub the lever 86 has an extension 81 which is pivoted to the head 38 of a rod 89 surrounded by a compressed spring 00, the rod passing through a collar SI and swivelled block 92, the spring thereby furnishing the power to close the gripper 66 upon the seat 05. The lever 86 carries a follower roll 94, which bears upon the periphery of a fixed cam 95 having a drop or inslant 96 to allow the closing of the gripper by the spring 90 as shown in Fig. 6, the cam having a rise, not shown, at an opposite point to cause the final release or opening swing of the lap gripper.

The transferer or cylinder cooperates with an opening device or member in the form of a cylinder I00 located to cooperate in the opening of each signature during its downward discharge to the saddle. The opening member or cylinder I00 is shown mounted on a shaft IOI parallel with and making one turn for each turn of the shaft 6! of the transfer cylinder. The opening device carries a gripper I02 which is complementary to the lap gripper 66 of the transfer cylinder in that while gripper 06 holds the inner or lap half of the signature the gripper I02 is adapted to engage and hold the outer or non-lap half during the opening action, both of these grippers operating finally to release en tirely the signature as it descends to the saddle.

The construction and operation of the opening gripper I02 may be conventional. It is shown as swinging upon a pivot I03 on the web of the cylinder I00 and as closing down upon a seat I04 located at the cylinder periphery. The gripper is understood to be spring-pressed toward closing position, and its movements may be controlled as follows. On an extension beyond its pivot the gripper carries a follower or roll I05 which runs upon the periphery of a fixed cam I06 which is shaped with a drop or inslant I01 to allow the closing of the gripper, and a later rise or outslant I08 to reopen the gripper for the final release. I

In the position shown in Fig. 1 the lap gripper 66 is about to close on the inner half of the traveling signature. When the open edge of the signature has reached a suitable point, after the main gripper 63 has released its outer half, the opening gripper I02 makes a quick closing movement upon its seat I04 as the roll I05 travels down the cam slant I01. By this closing movement of the gripper I02 it is caused to enter the space 5 existing between the two halves of the signature, as seen in Fig. 3, so that the gripper I02 grips only the non-lap half. By this action, as the lap gripper 60 carries one half of the signature toward one side of the saddle, the opening gripper I02 diverts the other half toward the other side of the saddle. Finally, as the opening gripper is released by the cam slant I08 the lap gripper is similarly released by the rising slant on its cam 95.

The purpose of the main gripper 03 on the transfer cylinder is to engage the openable edge of the pausing signature and start the transferring pull of the signature from the extracting drum; and instead of this gripper an equivalent engaging and pulling means may in some cases be substituted, although the gripper type of engagement affords the greatest accuracy and reliturned by the shaft 21 ability. As the signature advances downwardly for discharge, and after the main gripper has released its lower edge and after the grippers 60 and I02 have later released its respective halves the signature might be temporarily left without adequate driving or transferring action. To bridge over this short period between the complete release of the lower part of the signature and its final discharge from between the two cylinders, an auxiliary feed means is shown in the form of an idler roller IIO which is carried on a swingable arm III fulcrumed at II2. By gravity or spring force the idler he is pressed against the signature advancing on the cylinder 60, creating a driving friction between the cylinder and signature, thus ensuring that the signature is rapidly and completely pulled along away from the drum 2 0 and thrust downwardly between the cylinders 00 and I00.

The modified gathering machine shown in Fig. 2 is a substantial equivalent of that shown in Fig. 1 excepting that the former has a hopper in which the signatures are stacked flatwise. The frame I0 supports the hopper which comprises an abridged bottom I2 and sides I3 between which the signatures are laid with their closed edges exposed below at the front part of the hopper, where the extreme edges are supported upon a slight rib or shelf at the lower end of a front Wall I5 In this embodiment the suction cup 24 operates to swing downwardly the closed edge of each signature, as shown, into the path of the gripper cooperating with a seat 20 both mounted upon the rotary extracting drum 26 The extracting gripper is mounted on a shaft 3%, and its operation may be as before described, the gripper being swung through the movement of a roller 2 1 which travels around a fixed cam comprising the cam parts and 38 The cam part 36 is adjustable for changing the signature opening point and for this purpose is attached to block 10 which can swing adjustably on the shaft 27*. As before, the block 00 is united with a registering stop 03 having a notch 44 These parts are set according with the width of the signature by a handle 30 the adjustment of which is fixed by setting it upon an arcuate piece 49 An auxiliary feed roll ".52 ensures the traveling of each signature to the stop member 43*, while a guide plate or rest holds the signature adjacent to the drum during its pause.

The extracting drum in Fig. 2 rotates clockwise or oppositely to that in Fig. 1. Each signature therefore is pulled frontwardly out of the stack, and around and down between the drum periphery an exterior curved guide plate 54, thence past the transfer point I02 and upwardly at the rear side of the drum until, beyond the gripper release point, the signature is brought to rest at the stop 4%, with the openable edge of the signature remaining at the transfer point I02. While the next signature is being similarly extracted and brought to a stop, the preceding signature is engaged by the transfer cylinder 00 and transferred away from the drum and thence around downwardly between the transfer cylinder 00 and the opening device I00 for opening and final discharge upon the saddle.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signature gathering machine having a eries of hoppers for stacks from which signatures may be extracted in succession for transfer and discharge upon a traveling conveyor or saddle; an extractor adjacent to each hopper comprising a continuously rotatable drum with gripper operable to grip each signature by a first transfer, and a continuously rotatable transfer cylinder located below the drum and having a gripper operable to grip each pausing signature by its positioned second edge and pull it reversely away from said drum and thence around downwardly for discharge upon the gathering conveyor or saddle.

2. In an insert'signature gathering machine having a series of hoppers for stacks from which signatures may be extracted in succession for transfer, opening and discharge upon a traveling saddle;' an extractor adjacent to each hopper comprising a' continuously rotatable drurnwith gripper operable to grip each signature by its closed back edge and pull it completely out of the stack and thence carry it around downwardly and beyond the low point of the drum and thence around upwardly to release it near a pausing position with its open edge in predetermined positionnear the low point of the drum, means for supporting the released signature adjacent to the extractor drum while pausing for transfer, a continuously rotatable transfercylinder located be-.

low the drum and having a gripper operable to grip each pausing signature by its positioned open edge and pull it reversely away from said drum and thence'around downwardly for discharge, and an opening device having means operable to. engage the outer half of the signature advancingon said cylinder and divert it away from the inner half for opening and discharge uponvthe saddle.

3, A machine as inclaim 2, the supporting means forthe pausing released signature being a curvedrest or guide spaced from the drum sufficiently toaccommodate loosely the signature.

4.A machine as in claim 1 and wherein the extractordrum' and transfer cylinder are so timed that before the cylinder has pulled each signature away from the 'drurnthe drum has advanced the next signaturesufficiently for the two signatures to pass each other in opposite directions and in mutual contact between the drum and supporting means or curved rest.

5. A machine as in claim 2 and wherein the extractcr drum and transfer cylinder are so timed that before the cylinder has pulled each signature away. from the drum the drum'has advanced the next-signature sufiiciently for the two signatures to passeach other in opposite directions and in mutual contact between the drum and supporting means or curved rest.

6. A machine as inclaim 2 and wherein the supporting means is a guide spaced from the drum sufficiently for two signatures to pass each other loosely between drum and guide.

'7. A machin'eas in claim 2 and wherein the transfer cylinderhas a main gripper to grip and pull down the entire signature. and an auxiliary gripper to hold the inner half only during opening; the opening device comprising an opening cylinder. with gripper to grip and pull away the outerhalf of the signature during opening; the main gripper beingoperableto release the open edge of the signature before opening, and the auxiliary and opening grippers being operable to release the two halves during discharge opened signature. i

8. In a signature gathering machine having a series of hoppers for stacks from which signatures of the may be extracted in succession for transfer and it completely out of the stack and thence carry it around beyond a transfer position and to release it near a pausing position with its last-emerged openable edge at such transfer position at the periphery of the drum, a continuously operable transfer means located adjacent to the drum and having a gripper adapted to grip each pausing signature by its positioned openable edge and pull is reversely away from said drum and thence downwardly for discharge upon the gathering saddle, and opening means operable to engage and divert half of the signature during downward transfer thereby to open the signature for reception astride the saddle.

9. A gathering machine as in claim 8 and wherein the extractor drum has a plurality of grippers spaced around its periphery thereby to afford overlapping actions on successive signatures; whereby each signature in its reverse trans fer travel passes the next signature in its upward travel.

10. In an insert signature gathering machine having a series of hoppers for tacks from which signatures may be extracted in succession for transfer, opening and discharge upon a traveling saddle; an extractor adjacent to each hopper comprising a continuously rotatable drum with gripper operable to grip each signature by its closed back edge and pull it completely out of the stack and thence carry it around andbeyond the transfer point of the drum and thence around therebeyond to release it near apausing position, a fixed-position stop in the path of the signature advancing on the drum located to stop the closed edgeof the signature so that its open edge will pause in predetermined position near the transfer point of the drum, means for supporting or confining the released signature adjacent to the extractor drum while pausing for transfer,- a continuously rotatable transfer cylinder located near the transfer point of the drum and having a gripper operable to grip each pausing signature by its positioned open edge and pull it reversely away from said drum and thence around for downward discharge; and an opening device having means operable to engage'the outer half of each signature advancing on said cylinder and divertit away fromthe inner'half for opening and dis-' chargeupon the saddle." 7 p 11. For a signature gathering machine wherein signatures may be extracted in succession from each stack for transfer and discharge upon a gathering conveyor or'saddle; an extra ctoradjacent to each stack comprising a continuously rotatable drum with gripper operable to grip each signature by one edge and pull it completely out of the stack and thence carry it around beyond the transfer pointof the drum torele'ase' it near a pausing position, a fixed-position stop in the path of the signature'advancing onthedrum located tostopv the first edge of the signature so that its second edge will pause in; predetermined position near the transfer point of the drum, means for supporting the released signature adjacent to the extractor drum while pausing for transfer,

an a continuously rotatable transfer cylinder located adjacent to the drum and having a gripper operable to grip each pausing signature by its positioned second edge and pull it reversely away from said drum and. thence around downwardly for discharge upon the conveyor or saddle. 12. A gathering machine as in claim and wherein the extractor drum gripper is timed to release each signature slightly before its advance edge reaches said stop, and auxiliary feed means is provided to continue the advance until the stop is reached and to hold the signature yieldingly to the stop until reverse direction transfer starts.

13. A gathering machine as in claim 11 and wherein the extractor drum gripper is timed to release each signature slightly before its advance edge reaches said stop, and auxiliary feed means is provided to continue the advance until the stop is reached and to hold the signature yieldingly to the stop until reverse direction transfer starts; and wherein the auxiliary feed means comprises an idler feed roll arranged resiliently to press the signature toward the drum whereby the drum frictionally advances the signature to the stop and holds it there with slippage between drum and signature.

14. A gathering machine as in claim 11 and wherein is means or a handle to adjust the position of the stop around the drum in accordance with varying Widths of signature.

15. A gathering machine as in claim 11 and wherein is means or a handle to adjust the position of the stop around the drum in accordance with varying widths of signature; consisting of a lever swingable about the drum axis, with means to set it in different radial positions.

16. A gathering machine as in claim 11 and wherein is means to adjust the position of the stop around the drum for signatures of different widths, and the means which opens the drum gripper has means to change its timing to change the point of release according to the width of signature.

17. A gathering machine as in claim 11 and wherein is means to adjust the position of the stop around the drum for signatures of different widths, and the means which opens the drum gripper has means to change its timing to change the point of release according to the width of signature; the same being operable by the same means, handle or lever by which the signature stop is adjusted; whereby the two settings are made in coordination by a single operation.

18. A gathering machine as in claim 11 and wherein is means to adjust the position of the stop around the drum for signatures of different widths, and there is an idler feed roll mounted to be adjustable with the signature stop, to act upon the released edge of the signature feeding toward the stop.

19. In an insert signature gathering machine having a series of hoppers for containing stacks from which successive signatures may be extracted by their back edges for transfer, opening and discharge upon a saddle; a continuously rotatable extractor drum adjacent to each hopper comprising a gripper operable to grip each signature by its closed back edge and extract it completely from the stack and carry it around beyond the transfer point of the drum and release it in advance of a pausing position with its openable edge near such transfer point, a signature registering stop arranged in the path of the signatures advancing on the drum and located beyond the release point to stop the closed edge of each released signature thereby to register accurately the signature pausing 0n the drum so that its openable edge will occupy an exact predetermined position near the transfer point of the drum, means spaced outwardly of the drum for supporting or confining the released signature loosely adjacent to the drum while pausing for transfer, and a rotatable transfer cylinder located adjacent to the drum and having a gripper operable to grip each pausing signature by its positioned openable edge and pull it reversely away from said drum and transfer it thence around for discharge and opening upon the saddle.

20. An insert gatherer as in claim 19 and wherein is means for adjusting the location of the registering stop around the circumference of the drum so that for different widths of signature the openable edge thereof may accurately occupy the predetermined transfer position during the signature pause.

21. An insert gatherer as in claim 19 and wherein associated with the rotary drum is a cam means to cause the gripper to close while passing the extracting point and another cam means to cause the gripper to open while passing the release point of the drum, and means for adjusting the last-mentioned cam means to vary the release point to precede slightly the stop point according to the Width of the signatures being gathered.

22. An insert gatherer as in claim 19 and wherein is an auxiliary feed means or idler roller cooperating with the drum to cause each signature after release by the gripper to advance nonpositively to the registering stop.

23. In an insert signature gathering machine having a series of hoppers for containing stacks from which successive signatures may be extracted by their back edges for transfer, opening and discharge upon a saddle; a continuously rotatable extractor drum adjacent to each hopper comprising a gripper operable to grip each signature by its closed back edge and extract it completely from the stack and carry it around beyond the transfer point of the drum and release it in advance of a pausing position with its openable edge near such transfer point, a signature registering stop arranged in the path of the signatures advancing on the drum and located beyond the release point to stop the closed edge of each released signature thereby to register accurately the signature pausing on the drum so that its openable edge will occupy an exact predetermined position near the transfer point of the drum, and a continuously rotatable transfer member located adjacent to the drum and having means to engage each pausing signatur at its positioned openable edge and pull it reversely away from the drum and transfer it thence away for discharge and opening upon the saddle.

24. In an insert signature gathering machine having a series of hoppers for containing stacks from which successive signatures may be extracted by their back edges for transfer, opening and discharge upon a saddle; a continuously rotatable extractor adjacent to each hopper comprising a gripper operable to grip each signature by its closed back edge and extract it completely from the stack and carry it around beyond the transfer point of the extractor and release it in advance of a pausing position with its openable edge near such transfer point, a signature registering stop arranged in the path of the signatures advancing on the rotary extractor and located beyond the release point to stop the closed edge of each released signature thereby to register accurately the signature pausing on the extractor so that its openable edge will occupy an exact predetermined'position near such transfer point, and a transferer located adjacent to the extractor and having means to engage each pausing signature at its positioned openable edge and pull it reversely away from the extractor and transfer it thence away for discharge and opening upon the saddle. v

25. An insert gatherer as in claim 23 and wherein the extractor drum is adapted to operate to feed each extracted signature into the space between drum and signature support before the previous signature has been completely pulled out of said space by the transfer member.

26. An insert gatherer as in claim 24 and wherein the extractor is adapted to operate to feed each extracted signature into the space between extractor and signature support before the previous signature has been completely pulled out of said space by the transfer member.

27. In a machine of the kind described a signature transfer cylinder adapted to cooperate with a lap signature opening device, said cylinder having a main gripper for gripping the entire thickness of the openable edge of each signature, and an adjacent lap gripper for gripping the lap only of'the signature gripped in said main gripper, and characterized in the provision of a gripper seat arranged inside the cylinder periphery in position to cooperate with both said main and said lap gripper.

28. In an insert signature gathering machine of the kind having means to support a series of stacks from which successive signatures may be extracted by their back edges for transfer, opening and gathering discharge upon a traveling saddle; a'rotatableextractor drum adjacent to each stack comprising a gripper operable to grip each signature by its closed back edge and extract it completely from the stack and carry it around beyond the point of transfer from the drum and release it at a pausing position with its openable edge near such transfer point, a signature registering stop arranged in the path of the signatures advancing on the drum and located beyond the release point to stop the closed edge of each released signature therebyto register accurately the signature pausing on the drum so that its openable edge will occupy an exact predetermined position near the transfer point, supporting means for confining the released and pausing signature loosely adjacent to the drum, and a v movable transferring and opening mechanism located adjacent to the drum and having a device to grip each pausing signature by its positioned openable edge, with operating means causing said mechanism promptly to grip each signature and pull it reversely away from said drum and transfer it thence aroundfor discharge and opening upon the saddle.

29. In a saddle gathering machine having for each signature stack an extractor drum adapted to carry each extracted signature around with its closed edge leading to a registering position and there release it, a fixed stop in the path of the signatures carried on the drum adapted to register by its closed edge each released signature thereby toposition accurately its openable edge for transfer, transfer means located to engage such positioned openable edge of each pausing signature and pull it away from the drum with its openable edge leading for opening and discharge upon the saddle, and means for opening each such signature during its discharge upon the saddle.

PAUL E. KLEINEBERG. 

